‘It would be the biggest sporting event in the UK since the 1966 World Cup’: Frank Warren’s makes a huge claim about potential bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua as he insists it must go ahead after Gypsy King dismantled Deontay Wilder
- The boxing world is now desperate for Tyson Fury to face rival Anthony Joshua
- Frank Warren says the clash would be one of the biggest UK sporting events ever
- Fury reclaimed his status as heavyweight champion by beating Deontay Wilder
- Wilder will have the option to instigate a trilogy fight with Fury after his defeat
- READ: Sportsmail’s fight report on the bell from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
Tyson Fury has been told that a world heavyweight title unification fight with fellow Brit Anthony Joshua would be the ‘biggest sporting event since the 1966 World Cup final’.
Fury won the world title for the second time with a stunning seventh-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Deontay Wilder.
But though Wilder has the contractual right to demand a rematch, Fury’s promoter Frank Warren is keen to his man in with WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO champion Joshua.
Promoter Frank Warren (far right) is desperate to see Tyson Fury go up against Anthony Joshua
Warren made the huge claim that the fight would be on the scale of the 1966 World Cup final
Warren said: ‘That would be the biggest sporting event to take place in the UK since England won the World Cup. You would not be able to get a ticket for it.
‘The stumbling block is that he [Joshua] has to fight Pulev. If I was him I wouldn’t fight Pulev, I would even vacate the belts to get the fight with Tyson on.
‘He should not take the risk. I’d prefer him not to take the risk, I’d prefer Wilder not to take the rematch and let’s get it on.’
England won the World Cup on home soil in ’66, which has been forever since immortalised
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn insists he will do everything possible to set up a unification fight this year, saying: ‘It has become the biggest fight in the history of the sport worldwide.
‘What a time for British boxing. To have one world heavyweight champion would be great but to have two with all the belts — we will never see it again.
‘We have to make this fight happen. We will never get the chance for two Brits to fight for an undisputed heavyweight world championship.
The boxing world is now Fury’s oyster after beating Wilder in such convincing fashion
‘I will promise you we will do everything we can to make this fight happen. The first thing is that Wilder has the rematch clause.
‘I don’t think anyone wants to see a third fight, it was that conclusive, but we will see if he wants to exercise that. I probably expect Wilder (to take the rematch). I don’t see where else he has to go.
‘Our mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev is also promoted by Bob Arum, Tyson Fury’s promoter, so there is a very easy manoeuvre there if Wilder doesn’t want the rematch to go straight into this undisputed fight in the summer. That’s what we have to push for initially.’
Joshua regained his belts and glory after dismantling Andy Ruiz Jr in a Saudi Arabia rematch
Hearn insists that Joshua is eager to step into the ring with Fury and would not be daunted despite watching his demolition of Wilder.
He added: ‘I have already spoken to AJ, he wants this fight. He has zero fear of fighting Tyson Fury and he wants to be undisputed. Every country in the world will try to get this fight, but for me it should happen in the UK. We think as Joshua’s team that we win this fight, they believe they win this fight.
Wilder’s trainer Jay Deas insists his man will seek a rematch, saying: ‘I’m sure Deontay will want to do this. One draw, one win by Fury. The third fight will decide who is the true champion.’
Fury said: ‘I expect Deontay and I will be back in the ring. He’s been a great champion and is still a real warrior. He will want to try to avenge this.
I need to enjoy this victory and Deontay needs time to recover. But I’m almost sure he’ll take the rematch because he can take someone out at any time. With that level of danger, you can always win a fight. I’m sure we’ll do it again if he wants to.’